Taking fashion cues from music is as natural as pressing play: Who hasn’t considered Patti Smith’s effortlessly undone button-down on the cover of Horses or Stevie Nicks’s sheer bohemian dress on the cover of Rumours as potential additions to their wardrobe? To add an extra dash of inspiration to our spring music playlist, Vogue matched the cover art of eight excitement-worthy upcoming albums to looks from the fall collections. Consider these ensembles fashion’s answer to the band T-shirt.

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Photo: (from left) Courtesy of the artist; Courtesy of Céline

Neil Young and Crazy HorseAlbum:AmericanaRelease Date: June 5, 2012The Sound: The godfather of alt-country, Neil Young reunites with his old band Crazy Horse for the first time in nearly nine years, this time for Americana. The album, a collection of classic American folk standards, ranges from late-fifties doo-wop hits all the way back to nineteenth-century gold rush ballads, and there’s even a rendition of “God Save The Queen”—and you don’t get much more old-school than that. The Look: As you take in the classics from Neil Young and Crazy Horse, consider a twist on red, white, and blue from Céline, whose oversize fur in Americana colors may not be folksy but is certainly a hit.

LISTEN: “Powderfinger” (LIVE) by Neil Young and Crazy Horse

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Photo: (from left) Courtesy of the artist; Marcio Madeira/firstVIEW

Fiona AppleAlbum:The Idler Wheel is wiser than the Driver of the Screw, and Whipping Cords will serve you more than Ropes will ever doRelease Date: June 2012The Sound: Although she’s yet to officially release anything from the highly anticipated record, the songs she previewed at South by Southwest last month (and the subsequent eight-city tour) suggest she hasn’t lost her knack for stripped-raw, trembling love songs with a sultry soulfulness. (Or, judging by the 23-word album title, her sense of humor.)The Look: Fiona Apple’s newly revealed album cover is a harmonious frenzy—its frantic lines almost sing. An inspirational fashion link is Altuzarra’s dynamic red print, embellished with sound-making brass paillettes that announce its arrival like the buzz of a highly anticipated album.

LISTEN: “So Sleepy” by Fiona Apple

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Photo: (from left) Courtesy of the artist; Yannis Vlamos/GoRunway.com

SantigoldAlbum:Master of My Make-BelieveRelease Date: May 1, 2012The Sound: It’s always been hard to classify Philadelphia-born electro-dub radical Santigold, and her upcoming sophomore album, Master of My Make-Believe—which transitions from afro-beat rhythms to dance-hall break beats and old-school jungle quicker than you can say “parachute pant and brocade-print Chuck Taylor ensemble”—is sure to be no exception.The Look: Santigold’s mixed-genre album has a fashion soul mate in Dries Van Noten’s versatile range of prints. This collection, inspired by costumes of the world on display at the Victoria and Albert Museum in London, pulls from as many disparate influences as Master of My Make-Believe.

LISTEN: “Disperate Youth” by Santigold

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Photo: (from left) Courtesy of the artist; Marcio Madeira/firstVIEW

Marilyn MansonAlbum:Born VillainRelease Date: May 1, 2012The Sound: Even though Marilyn Manson has been seen participating in some unlikely collaborations over the last few months—namely with Hollywood A-listers Johnny Depp and Shia LaBeouf (really, Google it)— he shows he still knows how to make dark, grotesque, industrial Goth-metal on Born Villain, his first studio album in three years. The Look:Alexander Wang nails grown-up Goth, melding structured suiting with long black gloves and statement netting. The extreme polo neck is a Manson-esque detail that will also deter conversation, giving you more time to listen to a villainous new album.

LISTEN: “No Reason” by Marilyn Manson

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Photo: (from left) Courtesy of the artist; Marcio Madeira/firstVIEW

Regina SpektorAlbum:What We Saw From the Cheap SeatsRelease Date: May 29, 2012The Sound: The Russian-born singer-songwriter, who is known for her oddly introspective take on feel-good piano pop, returns with her first album in three years. If the new single “Don’t Leave Me” is anything to go by, we can expect something a lot giddier than 2009’s sullen Far.The Look:Marni’s playful, cherry-colored cape, worn with a pair of white tights and perhaps a whimsical bandleader hat like Spektor’s will announce your quirky-pop fandom, which is sure to be heralded—even from the cheap seats.

LISTEN: “Don’t Leave Me” by Regina Spektor

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Photo: (from left) Courtesy of the artist; Marcio Madeira/firstVIEW

Nicki MinajAlbum:Pink Friday: Roman ReloadedRelease Date: April 3, 2012The Sound: Nicki Minaj ascended to hip-hop mega stardom in 2010 after the success of her breakout debut album Pink Friday. Now, having cleared a path for a follow-up (Pink Friday: Roman Reloaded) with the Rihanna-esque summer ballad “Starships,” it looks as though she has an eye on becoming the next queen of high-octane power pop, too. The Look:Mary Katrantzou’s techno-printed dress looks like it’s embellished with candy dots and pleated Starburst wrappers. Fitting for a star rapper like Minaj, whose album cover makes sugar-pink the new color to take seriously.

LISTEN: “Starship” by Nicki Minaj

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Photo: (from left) Courtesy of the artist; Marcus Tondo/GoRunway.com

Jack WhiteAlbum:BlunderbussRelease Date: April 24, 2012The Sound: It’s hard to believe that during his decade-long journey from early-00s indie icon to highly sought-after producer and collaborator and all-around retro-rock impresario, Jack White has never released an album under his own name. His solo debut, however, perfectly distills his vast body of work into a few choice cuts, which many are calling the best of his career.The Look: White’s somber album art (in which he accessorizes with . . . a vulture) doesn’t have to hinder your personal excitement for the debut of his first solo tracks. Ann Demeulemeester’s artful crowns of feathers seem like an appropriate party hat for the occasion.

LISTEN: “Sixteen Saltines” by Jack White

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Photo: (from left) Courtesy of the artist; Marcio Madeira/firstVIEW

Best CoastAlbum:The Only PlaceRelease Date: May 15, 2012The Sound: Best Coast’s Bethany Cosentino is already known for her hazy, garage-pop-tinged surf ballads (see her dreamy 2010 debut Crazy For You.) Now she returns with her second album, The Only Place, another ode to Southern California, which, although slightly folkier, still makes you pine for the beaches of the Gold Coast. As she explains on the namesake single: “We’ve got the ocean, got the sun / Got the babes, got the waves . . . why would you live anywhere else?”The Look: Give California a Best Coast bear hug in an outfit inspired by Band of Outsiders’s fall collection. Prairie-cool meets L.A. elegance in this look, combining American tartan with a cotton blouse and sleek fur.